Pope starts his Argentina visit with strong critique of its leader

Pope Leo XIV delivered a strong critique of Argentine President

Javier Milei's austerity measures and libertarian agenda on the first day

of his visit to the South American country.

The pope laid out a vision of governance, democracy and society

very much at odds with Milei's, exposing differences over spending cuts,

social justice and artificial intelligence.

"The economy must serve the person, not the person the economy,"

said Leo upon his arrival in Buenos Aires.

Milei has staked his presidency on slashing public spending

to tame inflation, while describing the notion of social justice

as "a horror" and "theft" in recent speeches.

Leo's predecessor, Pope Francis, an Argentinian, never returned

home during his 12-year pontificate.